SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND KOSOVO ON AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000752

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV XL ZL
SUBJECT: SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND KOSOVO ON AMBASSADOR
BIDS FAREWELL TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Classified By: Ambassador Mary M. Ourisman Reason 1.4 (b/d)

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Summary
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1. (C) Ambassador Ourisman paid a farewell call on an
engaging Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and
Barbuda December 16. Spencer told the Ambassador she will be
missed and praised her service to the U.S. and its relations
with the region. The Ambassador called Spencer,s attention
to opportunities to work more closely on security, HIV/AIDS,
human rights issues in the United Nations, and the
recognition of Kosovo. The Ambassador also reviewed the
status of the Half Moon Bay expropriation dispute and the
ongoing deliberations toward a resolution of the WTO case on
online gaming. Spencer thanked the Ambassador for her
commitment to strengthening ties between the U.S. and the
region, and said he looked forward to working with the new
U.S. administration. End Summary.

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Security
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2. (C) Highlighting our past and ongoing security cooperation
with Antigua and the Eastern Caribbean region, Ambassador
Ourisman noted our disappointment that the security dialogue
meeting scheduled for December 8 had been cancelled at
CARICOM,s request, but emphasized that work was continuing
at the technical level, and that we were looking to CARICOM
countries to identify their most urgent security needs and
priorities. The Ambassador also brought to Spencer's
attention several opportunities to deepen security
cooperation in the coming months. Specifically, she noted
that the USS Swift, a Navy training platform, would be based
in Barbados in January and March to conduct an array of
maritime and law enforcement-related training for countries
in the region, and she encouraged Antigua to make the most
of this opportunity. The Ambassador also noted that Antigua
had been chosen as the site for the new U.S.-funded regional
cyber forensics lab, and she encouraged Spencer to move
quickly to finalize the physical infrastructure needed to
house the facility. Spencer assured the Ambassador he would
push the project forward, and subsequently invited her to
visit the site the government has identified to host the lab.


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UN Voting and the Recognition of Kosovo
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3. (C) Turning to human rights, the Ambassador noted that she
had hoped to see closer cooperation with Antigua on key human
rights issues in the United Nations, given Antigua,s
longstanding tradition of respect for human rights at home.
She asked Spencer for support on upcoming human rights votes
in the UN in plenary session later that week, and Spencer
quickly agreed on the importance of allowing debate on such
issues in the UN. He suggested that the U.S. position was
also the position of his government. While admitting that
Antigua,s recent votes did not reflect this, the PM said he
would discuss the issue with his Ambassador to the UN and
determine if changes in Antigua,s approach would be
appropriate. On the issue of Kosovo recognition, PM Spencer
said the issue was under active consideration within CARICOM,
which was attempting to arrive at a common position on the
issue. At this time, he said, the issue is "not closed."
The Ambassador noted that 53 countries have now recognized
Kosovo, and that the government there had made significant
progress on issues of minority rights.

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WTO Online Gambling Case and Half Moon Bay
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4. (C) Prime Minister Spencer reiterated his hope for a
favorable outcome to the long-simmering WTO gaming dispute,
which he hoped would benefit all parties involved. He
stressed, though, that he does not want to lose the economic
lift that online gaming provides Antigua, especially at a
time when tourism is facing a slowdown. As she did when she
paid her initial courtesy calls two years before, the
Ambassador urged the PM to resolve the longstanding Half Moon
Bay expropriation dispute. Spencer said the matter was
finally at the adjudication stage, and pointed out that it is
not in the interest of the GOAB to delay the any longer
because they have entered into an agreement to develop the
property.

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Caribbean Issues and the Obama Administration
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5. (C) Stressing the importance of the upcoming Summit of the
Americas, the Ambassador expressed hope that the GOABwould
see the meeting as an opportunity to bringhemispheric focus
on priority Caribbean issues an to engage constructively
with the Obama administration. Spencer, who recently
re-named the highest peak in Antigua &Mount Obama,8 said he
hoped to secure an early meeting with the new
administration,s team at the summit. He expressed hope that
President-Elect Obama would have good insights into the
issues facing the Caribbean. He expressed his desire to
build upon the open dialogue that has been established during
the Bush Administration, particularly with the Conference on
the Caribbean and subsequent meetings.

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HIV/AIDS, Health, and Non-Communicable Diseases
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6. (C) The Ambassador reaffirmed U.S. support for combating
HIV/AIDS, and noted that the region would soon be the
beneficiary of the first-ever regional PEPFAR program. She
said the Embassy in Bridgetown, through its USAID, CDC, and
SOUTHCOM representatives, would be actively engaging
countries in the region in the months ahead to shape the new
program, and welcomed Antigua,s engagement in this process.
Spencer noted his country,s gratitude for the President,s
commitments on HIV/AIDS, and said he hoped there will be more
focus in the future on non-communicable diseases such as
diabetes. The Ambassador highlighted the planned visit of
the hospital ship, the U.S.S. Comfort, which will visit
Antigua in May to provide medical treatment for the people of
Antigua and Barbuda and other countries in the region. She
welcomed Antigua,s willingness to host the vessel and said
this collaboration reflected our continued commitment to
Antigua and Barbuda and to the region.

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Comment
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7. (C) Prime Minister Spencer, who is facing elections early
in the New Year, was warm and effusive in his praise for the
Ambassador and for U.S. engagement with Antigua and Barbuda
during the Ambassador,s tenure. He recognized the
importance of the extensive training provided Antigua,s law
enforcement authorities, and was eager to affirm his
willingness to host the regional cyber forensics lab.
Spencer has been working closely with his ministers to
prepare for the arrival of the USS Comfort and can be
expected to work with us to ensure the success of the visit.
Spencer feels he has made enough progress during his first
term to merit a second term from the voters, but acknowledged
it had been tough sledding to overcome decades of cronyism
from the Bird governments. He has told his cabinet to be
ready any time after the New Year for what are expected to be
hard-fought elections.

OURISMAN